Ok, here is the program I've had the most requests for. Join me for a delightful trip down memory lane as we investigate the career of comic actor genius Jackie Gleason and his entourage with focus paid to the classic series The Honeymooners, which aired from October 1, 1955 to September 22, 1956. Since the final broadcast, the Honeymooners has gone out to countless syndication showings which have resulted in New Years Eve marathon telecasts and festivals. The highlight of this program is a 16mm showing of a rare Honeymooners episode title Hello Mom (which aired December 3, 1955). Find out about Gleason, Art Carney, Audrey Meadows, Joyce Randolf and the behind the scene stories of the show itself. Bound to be a very popular program, so book now!
Praise from Edith Kalickstein of Long Beach Public Library regarding THE HONEYMOONERS - Jackie Gleason and Company - America's Most Beloved Television Show:
The program was excellent and brought back many memories. I also had a few laughs. Thank you so much for sharing with the Long Beach community. They had such a good time.

Perhaps one of the least spoken about talents from the golden days of silent Hollywood film productions, Lon Chaney's influence on modern Hollywood make-up effects is second to none. Not only was he a fantastic make-up man, he was also one of the best actors of his time, very often choosing to underplay a part rather than go for the typical theatrics that punctuated the bulk of the performances from that era. Chaney had a smooth style all his own, and proved he could play just about any role handed to him which in turn, kept him from being typecast. Join us as we watch clips from some of Chaney's work including classics such as Phantom of the Opera (1925), The Unholy Three (1925), Tell it to the Marines (1926), and many more. This would make a great double booking with my Lon Chaney Jr. presentation. Perfect for the Halloween season!

Another entry for the Halloween season. Join us as we unmask thriller film legend Peter Lorre and we explore his life from his earliest days in Hungary where he was known under his real name Laszlo Lowenstein to his rise to stardom in Germany and his ultimate transformation into Hollywood boogeyman. We also explore Lorre's "A" list work including Casablanca and The Maltese Falcon. We'll talk about his working relationships with fellow actors Humphry Bogart and Sidney Greenstreet as well as his troubled personnel life and bouts with depression and alcohol. We'll be watching a plethora of film clips as well as viewing a mountain of memorabilia. This is another "must have" presentation.

The popular follow-up that includes 45 minutes of Castle Films shorts, The Wolf Man (1940), Frankenstein Meets The Wolf Man (1942), The House of Frankenstein (1944-two shorts), The Mummy’s Tomb (1942), and The Mummy’s Ghost (1944). Plus you get a wealth of movie materials(posters, pressbooks, etc) dating back to the golden days until the present. A two hour program featuring the best action from the golden age of horror, my most requested lecture.

Here is the third and perhaps best entry on my long running War & Cinema series. This time out we explore WWII as seen through the eyes of the Japanese, Italian and German perspective. We do this by looking at their propaganda; exploring newsreels, cartoons, and various other forms of "entertainment" designed to keep their public actively involved in the war effort, and of course extolling the virtues of their causes. Whether it be the "Die for your Country" cries of the Japanese, or the "inspire your nation into unity that will obey" slogan of Italian Fascism, or the xenophobic warnings of "imperialist invaders ruining the purity of race" extolled by the Germans, this program is the ultimate examination of what our enemies were thinking during WWII.

William Castle was the ultimate film promotion artist of the 1950's. Anyone who's ever seen House on Haunted Hill (1958), The Tingler (1959), 13 Ghosts (1960) will attest to this. Emergo- The skeleton flying over the audiences who paid to see House on Haunted Hill, movie theater seats wired with a minor electrical voltage to give the audience of the Tingler the sensation that the Tingler itself was crawling up on them, or even the special glasses you needed to put on in order to see the ghosts in 13 Ghosts. Castle knew how to sell a picture and keep audiences coming back for more. This program will give you a complete history of William Castles, from his humble beginnings right through his pioneer horror pictures of the 1950's and finally to his acceptance by the art-house crowd for his production of Rosemary's Baby. Includes film memorabilia and a selection of trailers from Castles work via DVD. A perfect show for the Halloween season. NEW 2012

For you lovers of vintage comedy, there can be no finer a comedy team than the Marx Brothers, a zany trio of real life brothers who gave a whole new meaning to the word funny. With the Marx Brothers being masters of both visual and verbal humor, the audience will regale in laughter as we view clips of the Marx Brothers and view a documentary on their careers. Then the audience will enjoy an educational history of the trio as explained through lecture and memorabilia. This is a 90 minute program complete with a DVD presentation.

When Hollywood received competition from the television studios in the 1950's, they pulled out a secret weapon called 3-D. Wearing a pair of blue and red cardboard glasses literally allowed the images on the movie screen to jump right off the screen and right into the audiences lap. 3-D was a process that was far from perfect, but for a brief period of time it was a rage country wide and gave some new excitement to the idea of going to the movies. Recently, 3-D has re-emerged and is again gaining in popularity and giving the couch potato audience a reason to rise out of their seats and come back to the movies. This program is one of the most complete you'll ever see in regards to the history of 3-D films and it includes a memorabilia show including posters and stills, plus a DVD presentation of trailers for films originally shot in 3-D. NEW 2012

The 1930s- Always a true crowd pleaser, this 45 minute collection of 6 short Castle Film Digests consisting of Dracula (1931), Frankenstein (1931), The Invisible Man (1932), The Mummy (1932), The Bride of Frankenstein (1935), and the Son of Frankenstein (1939), tells the true history of classic horror in the cinema and exemplifies the growth of cinema in general. Explains the social significance of horror films in our society. Plus you get a wealth of movie materials (posters, pressbooks, etc) dating back to the golden days until the present. A two hour program that serves as both a history lesson as well as group participation event.

Ok, we've already seen programs about the importance of Alfred Hitchcock's output on the history of cinema. However, few people actually realize that Hitchcock was the inventor of what we call "the slasher film," films exemplified by movies such as Halloween (1978) and Friday The 13th (1980). In this program, we'll gain deep insight as we explore Alfred Hitchcock's troubled childhood where his neurosis originated from having been raised in Victorian England, and we'll ascertain how this directly resulted in his inner rage and desires being expressed through such films as The Lodger (1927), Rope (1948), Psycho (1960), Torn Curtain (1966), and Frenzy (1972). We will also examine films that were highly influenced by Hitchcock such as Bird With The Crystal Plumage (1971) and more. Not your typical take on Hitchcock, but rather the turning of a whole new page in the master's career.

* Inclusion in this database does not indicate endorsement of any performer
or program by the NYS Education Department, the Office of Cultural Education, the NYS Library or the participating
library systems, nor does it eliminate the need for reference checks and appropriate standard screening procedures.